Billing code 43330: Esophageal myotomyMedicare rate & RVUs in Kansas
An abdominal Heller-type myotomy divides the esophageal muscle to relieve achalasia-related obstruction and is reported for the abdominal operative approach.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 43330 in Kansas.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 9 sections
What 43330 covers
This operation divides the muscle layer of the lower esophagus through an abdominal approach to ease passage of food into the stomach. It is most commonly performed by a general or thoracic surgeon for achalasia when the lower esophageal sphincter fails to relax. The service is generally performed in a hospital operating room. A fundoplication may also be performed to reduce reflux after the muscle is divided; the operative report should identify each procedure actually completed.
Select this code for the abdominal approach, not a thoracic or laparoscopic myotomy. Documentation should establish the indication, approach, extent of the myotomy, and any additional procedure. Medicare assigns a 90-day global period, including the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care during that period. For multiple procedures in one session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% reduction. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this single midline operation. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation, and team surgery is not permitted.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
43330 in Kansas
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | Unavailable | $1,124.29 |
How the 43330 rate is calculated
Each of 43330’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 43330
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work21.64
21.64 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense10.08
10.08 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice5.77
5.77 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
37.4900
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$1,252.20
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 43330
43330 has a 90-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.
CMS payment indicators · 43330
Esophageal myotomy
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 090 | Major surgery: the day before, the day of, and 90 days after are included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 2 | Paid. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 1 | Permitted with supporting documentation. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
| Split (54/55/56) | 0.09/0.81/0.10 | Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care. |
Global surgery period · 43330
Esophageal myotomy
90-day global period ends
Dec 30, 2026
Covers Sep 30, 2026 through Dec 30, 2026 (92 days, including the day before surgery).
Visit on Oct 31, 2026
Day 30 of the 90-day post-op period: related follow-up care is included in the surgical payment.
Pre-op dayGlobal period
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
43330 without 51 · national facility
$1,252.20
Esophageal myotomy
43330-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$626.10
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
43330 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 43331Esophageal myotomy
- Choose 43330 for an abdominal approach and 43331 for a thoracic approach. The operative report establishes which route was used.
- 43279Heller myotomy
- 43279 describes laparoscopic Heller-type myotomy and includes fundoplasty when performed. Use 43330 for the abdominal approach represented by this code.
- 43327Fundoplasty
- 43327 describes an esophagofundoplasty, not the abdominal muscle division used to treat achalasia. The procedures address different operative steps.
43330 billing questions
How does 43330 differ from 43331?
43330 is for the abdominal approach; 43331 is for a thoracic approach. The operative report should support the route used.
When would 43279 be more appropriate?
Use 43279 for laparoscopic Heller-type esophagomyotomy. Its descriptor includes fundoplasty when performed, unlike this abdominal-approach code.
Is a fundoplication included in 43330?
Document whether a fundoplication was performed as a separate operative step. Do not infer a separately reportable service merely because a wrap commonly accompanies a Heller myotomy.
Can modifier 50 be used?
No. This is a single abdominal myotomy, not a procedure performed on paired sides.
What postoperative care is included?
The 90-day global period includes the day-before preoperative visit and related postoperative care through the 90-day period.
How are other procedures in the same session paid?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard multiple procedure reduction. An assistant at surgery may be paid; co-surgeon payment requires supporting documentation.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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